Desk-drawer lock



May 14, 1929 B. E. RIcHARDsoN l. 1,712,842

DESK DRAWER LOCK Filed Sept. 17, 1925 .Q ld e l M w@ l mf m@ May 14, 1929. l B. E, RICHARDSON 1,712,842

DESK DRAWER LOCK Filed sept. 17 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 'murwov l aavdlichardson Till Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES 'BAYARD E. RICHARDSON, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

DESK-pairwise Locri.`

Application filed September 17', 1923. Serial, No. 663,038.

This invention relates to a drawer' lock for desks, of the type wherein all of the drawers' in the desk may be locked or unl cked sinniltaneously and automatically with the lockingl or unlocking of a single control drawer or, in a roll top desk, with the nioveinent of the roll top to closed or open position. The present invention conijn'ises nrany novel construe tions for .making a simple and effective lock of this character and one in which the desk structure is substantially the saine for either a flat top or roll top desk except for the addition of the upper strucutre necessary for the roll top, the locking mechanism in either typo of desk workin on the saine principle and retpiiringr but sinall changes for the adaptation of the lock from onejtypeof desk to the other and with a'use of counnon parts te a very large extent in the locks for either type of desk. A further object of the inven-` tion to provide avery simple and easily applied mounting.,r for the lockingl bars, re quiring practically no effort for the installation thereof with a resultant lesscninn' of e pense, a valuable feature of the invention beini;- that the guides used for the locking bar serve as stops for the drawers on their inward .nioveiuent andthere is no need to properly adjust separate stop memberswith rela tion to the drawers and the locking' mechanism, with a resultant savingin time and eX- pcnse of installation. A still further object of the invention is to provide, in the flat top desk, a means for automatically projecting the control drawer thereof forward a suf- ;iicient arnount that th e lockingl of the other drawers :is autonurtically freed, the device which projects the control. drawer forward moving to positionto release the lockinijr bars which hold the other drawers in locked post tion. And a still further object of the invention .is to provide .means whereby when one or more of the drawers are locked, and others are partly projected and unlocked, such unlocked drawers inay be moved inwardly and locked without affectinte` the locking),r of the other drawers. All of these objects and 'purposes, together with inany others not now stated, with constructions for attaining the saine, will he apparent as understanding of the invention is had from the following' dol seription, taken in connection with tl i `accompanying drawings, in which,

Figa l is a transverse vertical section j through the upper portion of a. desk equipped with a roll top and with my drawer lock construction.

.'Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in' section, showing the hack of two drawers and the locking,1 devices mounted on and used in connectiontherewith. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section through a flat top desk, the section being at the rear of the desk back of the locking mechanism and looking' forward.

Fig. e is a transverse vertical section through a flat top desk, showing the locking lnechanisin used with the drawers at a side of the desk in side elevation.

Fig. is :C fragmentary perspective view of a structural detail uscdwith and added to the regular locking bars when appli ed to roll top desks.

lig. (j a pcrsliiectlve view of the locking bar guide used with the construction.

Fie'. 'i' is a perspective view of one of the devices attached. one to each drawer in the desk, except the nriddle drawer in a ltiat top desk.

Fig'. 8 is a perspective view of one of the members mounted to act against the rear side or back of such middle drawer to partly pro ject the drawer when free to do so, said ineinbei" controlling the position of thi` lockinp; bar with which the other drawers at a the desk engage, and j Fig 9 is a fragineutzny side elevation, partn ly in section showing` the operativo relation of the member shown in Fili'. 8 to said iniddle drawer and the locking` bar.

` Like reference characters refer to like pu rts in the different figures of the drawings.

i ln the construction of a desk liaviuir; a dat top, `the top l is located above spaced apart pedcstals, each having an inner side 2, an outer side 3, a hack 4 and supporting` tornei' posts or legs 5` of usual and conventional construction. Horizontal frames h aving sid e hars (S au d `front and rear cross hars 7 are d isposed in spaced apart relation between the upper and lower ends of the pedestals, serv- .ing as supports for drawers tl slidably can ried on thelsidc bars t3, one over the other. On the inner sides ofthe sides 2 of the pedestalsare other horizontal hars 9 which serve as supports for a niiddle drawer l0 located un der theftop liiejtween the two pedestals in a flat top desk. This is conventional construction in desks and is old and well known. The

manner in which the drawersareslidably side of leach ldrawer and near the inner side thereof, a

member of sheet metal is attached, said meinber including a base portion 11 from which tangs 12 are turned at one end to embed in the back of the drawer, the base portion also having an opening vfor the passage of a securing screw 13 into the drawer for the irm'connection of this member to t-lie drawer. From the base 11 at the end thereof opposite that at which tangs 12 'are formed a part 14 is bent at right'angles'to the base, indicated at 14, in

the upper and lower edges of which notches 15 are cut, said part beyond the notches being' reduced' in' width andV brought substantially to a point so that an arrow-likeV end 16 is madein conjunction with thernotches 15. In' practice these members, which vare designed to-latcli with a locking bar, to be later described, are made in this manner, though butA one of theA notches 15 is effective in func tion, so that two different forms for the drawers of the two edestals are not needed, that VV'is rights and le ts for the right and left pedesformed for both.v

On two of the barst' at the inner side of the tals, the latching members being operable as pedestal, guide members for the locking bar used with the drawers in the pedestal are mounted. In the construction of the guide members, a single kpiece of sheet metal is formed with a Vertical part 17 from which two oppositely projecting ears 18 extendk to lie alongside the edge of the bar 6, suitable fastening devices' passing through the ears l into the bar-for attachment.V At the upper and lower. ends ofthe part17v, tongues 19 are turned at right angles, one at each side edge of the part 1.7, so that two tongues lie below andtwo above the bart) serving asstops to the inward movement of the drawers, as is evident.. `A short ldistanceV above the upper tongues the metal is bent to form a hori-Y zontal extensionV 20 which'extends'in a direction opposite Tt-oV Athe extension of the ears or tongues 19. At each side edge, downwardly turn'e'dsidesz21 are'turned from the part 2() and terminate in inwardly turned portions 22, this forming a holder for a flat block .23 of fiber which is secured inplace in any suitable manner. Y Arr A vertical opening is made through the block23 and larger like openings through the upperside 2O of the guide so that the vmetal locking bar passed downwardly through the two guides comes into contact en` gagement onlyA with wood oriiber with av ref sultant eliminationfofnoise.

he'locking bar 4 is made froma flat bar` of metal and passes loosely down through the two guide members. In the length of the bar a number of spaced apart elongated vertical openings or slots 25 are cut, one for each latching member on a drawer in the pedestal. The baiI extends upwardly to a. point above :the latching member on the uppermost drawer and at its upper end is turned at right angles to the rear for a distance, as indicated at 26, then downwardly for a short distance, making a section 27, and terminates in a forwardly turned part 28 lying under and parallelin Y the part- 26. In the normal lower position (il the bar with the drawers in closed position, the arrow-like ends 16 of the latching inembei'spass through thc slots 25 and the bar drops until it enters the notches 15, locking the drawers from outward movement until the bar has been elevated sutliciently to clear from the notches 15. It is evident that if part of the drawers were in locked position and with the bar in its lowermost position, and others were partly projected outward, on moving said latter drawers inward, the pointed ends of the latching members would freely enter the slots 25 and automatically lift the bar until the notch in the upper side of the latching member was reached, whereupon the locking bar will drop into locking position.

Accordingly, if the desk is locked, any drawers which have not been pushed inwardly sufficiently to lock may be locked by merely moving such drawers inward without doing anything else. l

On the inside of the inner side 2 of the )edestal, at the rear portion thereof and aliove the bar 9 a member made of sheet metal is mounted to lie back of the center drawer 10. This member comprises a vertically positioned shoe 29 'from the vertical edges of which sides 3() are turned to the rear, at their lower portions being extended to the rear to form arms '31, the same lying directly over the upper side of the bar 9. A pin 32 passes through both arms 31 at the ends thereof and through an opening in the adjacent side 2 of the pedestal and passes under the part 28 of the locking bar. One of these members is located at each side of the middle drawer opening and attached one to each inner side 2 of each pedesta] by means of a screw 33 which forms a pivotal mount for the member at the elbow of the bellcrank lever substantially `made by the member. A coiled spring 34' is located around the screw shank between the arms 31, one of its ends 35 bearing on the upper side of the bar 9 which supports the drawer 10, and the other end 36 bearing against the rear side of the shoe 29, as shown in Fig. 8. The springs of the two members have a tendency to force the vertical shoe portions of the members forward, this elevatm Y the ins 32 with av consequent elevation of t e loc ing bars 24 to inoperative position such that the ends 16 ofthe latching members on the drawers may llo freely enter or leave the slots in the bars. Also when the middle dra-wer 10 is in its rear position, the .front side of the shoe 29 of each member bears against the back of the drawer, the teiulency of thespringir acl ion of the members beirut,` to 'loree the drawer forward when the drawer is free to move. i

.ltis evident that when the middle or cen` ter drawer l() is in its inner position so as to force the bell-crunk levers to the position shown in. full lines in Fig. 9, the lockingl bars 24 are permitted to drop to lower locking` position. The said drawer 10 will be provided with the usual key operated lock at its front as to hold the same in its rcarinost position and effect the locking of the other drawers. As soon as the nnddle or center drawer l() is unlocked, the bell-era1ik lever members are freed to exert `their spring,r iniliilence against the back of the drawer 10, moving it forward a short distance, elevating pins 32 and the looking bars 24 with the pins.` All of thc drawers unlock at once and aiitomatically with the unlockingr of the middle drawer and the middle drawer cannot be forced inward and held there so as to make the locking of the other drawers effective except by locking it against outward movement, it being moved slightly forward whenever unlocked and free to move. Accordingly, there is never any undesired locking of the pedestal drawers during the time of use of the d esk, locking oe eurringv only at the time the desk is completely closed and i the center controlling drawer r pushed completely shut and locked at the outside. And of course, ifany of the pedestal drawers should not be entirely closed when this loc-king occurs, the same may be pushed in to fully closed position and locked as previously described. i

The above described structure applies to desks having flat tops, butwith few modi- ',ations is equally applicable to desks having" roll tops. The desk structure is wholly the same so far as the top land desk pedestals and drawers therein are concerned. The center drawer between the pedestals may or may .not be omitted. The upper structure applied to the desk above the top l comrpis s sides 37, a back 38 and a partial top 39, the sides havin ,fr grooves 4() for the reception of the ends of the iiexible roll top 40, as shown, mounted therein in the usual manner. In opening the desk the roll top is moved backwardly in the grooves and at its rear portion .is guided downwardly and then turned back in the opposite direction or vertically. The lut-ll-erank lever members acting on the middle drawer are left ofi" whether or not the drawer l0 eliminated and the locking bars 24 have to be operated by another means. i

Openings 4l are made through the top l directly over the parts 26 of the loekiim` bars and a rod 42 is threaded at its lower end, passes through each opening 41 andthreaded through a tapped opening in the part 26, as shown in Fig. 5. The adjustment of the rod with respect to the part 26 is obvious. A guide member 44 of sheet `metal is `located alongside each rod 42, having' an elongated slot"45 therein into which the upper end of the rod 42, bent at right angles io the main body of the rod, extend a liber sleeve 43 covering); said upper end of the rod. Of course the sleeve 43 may be of any suitablematerial that will obviate metallic noises and sounds. At the lower end of each support 44, a foot portion 46 is bent at rightangles to lie against the upperside of the top il, tangs 47 on the portion 46 being driven into the top, and a` screw passing through the opening shown in the foot portion 46 into the top to secure the supporting;- guide securely in place. The sleeves 43 are located so that when the roll top 4WL is pushed back to its extren'lity, its inner edges strike against the sleeves, elevatingithe rods 42 and `attac-hed lock bars 24 to unlocking" position, and as oon as the top .is moved toward closed' position, rods 42 and locking bars 24 are released to drop to lock ingr position.

The construct-ion is very practical and effective. While made substantially entirely of metal, this tendingl to economy in man ufaeture, no metal parts can clash to make undesired noises; The installation is exceptionally easy. A manufacturer can make either a Hat desk or one with a roll top `without needing to do more than add the roll top super-strucu ture to the fiat top desk and use practically the saine lock. The locking device for the drawers is particularly flesirable in that it is not liable to work when not needed with respect to some of the drawers, particularly in the fiat desks, as unlockingl the control. drawer in the flat desk renders the locking means thereafter ineffective until the cont-rol drawer .is closed and locked. Drawers inadvertently left unlocked in closing;l the desk can be closed and locked without trouble. The locking structure is parti eularly simple. effective and practical and has so proved in prateiee.

I claim:

l. A `guide member for a locking bar in desks, eoinprisinpi a plate of sheet metal adapted to be vertically positioned, at its upper end havinga portion bent to horizontal position, said horizontal portion at its side edges having downwardly bent extensions terminating in inwardly bent horizontal extremities extending toward each other, forming a holder and a block of librelike material held in said holder, said block having an openingr therethrough for the passage of a locking bar therethrough, and the said horizontal portion forming the upper side of the holder having a larger opening therethrough, substantially as described.

2. In a desk having a pedestal. and a plural-` ity of superimposed drawers slidably mounted therein, a latch member rigidly attached to the back ot' each drawer, all ot the members `being located in vertical alinement, guides attached one over the other on the. inner side of l the pedestal and adjacent the rear portion thereof, saidV guides having alined openings` therein,"a locking bar passing downwardly through the openings in the guides and v formed 'with an opening for each latch ineini ber intowhich thesaid latch member may pass reelywhen thev bar ,is` in an upper position,

lsaid bar normally dropping to a lower position to engage withand hold the-latch memf 'bers against movement when in said lower position, anda spring actuated bellerank pivotthe pedestal and un der the top, a Vertical locking bar mounted for vertical movements in the pedestal, a spring actuated "bell crank mounted back of the center drawer normally7 tending to vpii'ojectthe centerdraweiforward from litsv extreme inner position, means on said bell p crank,assoeia ted operatively with'the locking Y bar toV lift the saine` a prescribed distance when said belljcrankfis free to moveand allowing the locking bar to drop downwardly to a lower position whenthe bell crank is moved back on Inovingthe center drawerinwardly to lits extremeinner position,.and latching means on the drawers in the pedestal and openin s in the locking bar through which said late iing means is freely movable when the bar is in upper posit-ion, but intercngaging with the bar when it is in lower position to hold thc pedestal drawers from outward movement.

4. ln a desk a desk pedestal, drawers slidably mounted therein one over the other, a locking bar vertically positioned and slidably mounted at the rear portion of the pedestal and having a. plurality of openings therethrough, one for each drawer, latching devices rigidly attached one to each drawer to pass through the openings when the drawers are in inner position, said latching devices` being formed for the bar to engage therewith when in lower position to lock the drawers from outward movement, atop to the desk, a control drawer mounted slidably under the top alongside the upper end and inner side of the. pedestal, a. spring actuated bell crank lever member pivotally mounted on the inner side ot the pedestal and having a vertical and a horizontal arm, against the first of which the back of the control ldrawer engages when forced inwardly to its extreme inner position, said lever ineinber being normally turned forward when the drawer is moved olitwardly,4 and `a pin on the horizontal arm passing through the side of the pedestal and 1 ing under the upper end portion of the locking bar, substantially as and for the purposes described.

'In testimony whereof l aflix my signature.

BAYARD E. RICHARDSON. 

